The new heatsink...

[Hicks12]

Well just got the xigmatek 963 and was wondering if the paste is any good? i got some arctic 5 but should i save it? the paste comes in a packet(epic fail ) and is white, no info on it really.

Should be installing the heatsink in an hour or so(doing cable management !) so any tips for the amount to put on etc?

[SiM]

There will probably be little difference between them. I would go for the AS5 because it might save you 1-2C..

[spoon_]

Whatever comes with HSF is usually crap, ok Freezer comes with AS5 but that's about it.

My vote goes for AS5

[LuckyNV]

Artic Cooling products come with either MX1 or MX2 depending on how new it is.

Anyway, with many other products the supplied paste is adequate enough, using a top brand paste will probably net upto 3C at most.

I would just use the AS5 personally.

[spoon_]

My bad, of course you're right its MX2

[Webby]

Test it and see

Oh I read a review somewhere (will try and find it) about the best way to apply thermal paste to direct touch heatsinks. If I remember correctly it involved applying a layer to the heatsink base to fill the gaps between the pipes and the base then removing any excess. You then applied paste to the CPU in the normal manner.

Found it

http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.ph...1&limitstart=5

[Hicks12]

It said(in that link) white tim's are bad for copper so think ill skip it . Think i understood it correctly, best method is to spreadtim across the 2 inner parts(not the copper) and then put on cpu, right?.

[Webby]

yeah first fill in the gaps between the heatpipes and the base (this helps in the spreading) then two short lines one on each aluminium bar and place on the CPU done!

If you have an adequate supply of paste could be worth doing it, then checking the spread then doing it again, but you will know if it has not been applied very well as your temps will be sky high!

[Hicks12]

Alright well ill just finish rewiring my system and will try it .

[Hicks12]

Well im back, took ages for the cable management and i found it hard to keep the main 24pin power cable behind the back panel of the cm 690, anyone else found this?. The heatsink so far is 32C idle and the arctic 7 kept it about 35C which is a good improvement for idle. On load is even better, 44C during orthos (been about 10mins) and with the arctic 7 it went to numbers like 60 almost. I dont think i put enough paste on and not very well, i fail when putting paste on but to see an improvement like this gives me no need to change it. My 45nm chip always tells me the wrong temps so it will actually be lower than this (afaik) so its great .

I noticed one of the fins on the side had a little dent on it so i will inform scan just for future reference.

[Webby]

Glad it all worked out Keep an eye on the temps after a few heat and cool cycles the thermal paste may even its self out a bit (if the is even an issue).

Told you it was a decent cooler and for the £11 was an absolute bargain!

Did you stick with the stock fan or buy an alternative?

[Hicks12]

I did buy the akasa amber but thought id give the stock one a try, cant hear it at the moment but the 60mm(i think) fan on the NB was pluged into the wrong fan control so its set to high, will rewire that and see how quiet it is. This is with the heatsink on the lowest setting on asus fan control(1400rpm).

edit: Instead of making a new thread i thought id post it here. Is using the c1(cant remember ) to lower speed actually worth having on? Does it really affect performance much? Our electric bill has gone from £40 a month to a massive £80 so im looking for ways to lower the bill, any other settings that could help without lagging games?(all this pc used for and minor extracting)